Phillies' Zack Wheeler: Takes tough loss in Game 6
Rotowire
Wheeler pitched 5.1 innings and took the loss during Saturday's 4-1 defeat to the Astros in Game 6 of the World Series, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out five.
Wheeler was locked in Saturday night, keeping the potent Houston offense scoreless until his final inning. The 32-year-old was pulled from the game in the sixth inning after a hit-by-pitch, a groundout and a single, leaving it up to Jose Alvarado to work out of the jam. Unfortunately, Alvarado surrendered a three-run home run to Yordan Alvarez, giving the Astros a 3-1 lead and putting Wheeler in position to take his second loss of the World Series. Wheeler finished the playoffs with a 1-3 record and a 2.78 ERA across 35.2 innings in what was the first postseason of his nine-year career.
Phillies' Zack Wheeler: To get extra rest, start Game 6
Rotowire
Wheeler is scheduled to start Game 6 of the World Series against the Astros, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
The Phillies watched Wheeler's velocity dip during his last outing and have elected to give their ace an extra day of rest. Philadelphia is expected to start Ranger Suarez in Game 3, Aaron Nola in Game 4 and either Noah Syndergaard or Kyle Gibson in Game 5 if all goes according to plan.
Wheeler pitched five innings and took the loss during Saturday's 5-2 defeat to the Astros in Game 2 of the World Series, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out three.
Wheeler had a rough start to Game 2, allowing three consecutive doubles in a three-run first inning. The 32-year-old was able to settle down and recorded two outs in the fifth inning before giving up a two-run blast to Alex Bregman, making the score 5-0. This was the first start of the postseason where Wheeler did not pitch six innings, and the five runs that scored while he was on the mound matched the total runs allowed in his last four starts combined. He is now 1-2 in the postseason with a 2.67 ERA across 30.1 innings. On a positive note, Wheeler threw only 69 pitches, so he has a chance to make an impact later on in the World Series.
Wheeler did not factor in the Game 5 decision Sunday during the 4-3 win, allowing two runs on three hits and zero walks while striking out eight in six innings against the Padres.
In the first postseason of his career, Wheeler delivered his fourth straight quality start of the playoffs. His first blemish came on a solo homer from Juan Soto in the fourth, and his second run allowed was scored after he was removed from the game in the seventh inning following a leadoff single. The 32-year old righty has been a dominant force on the mound in the postseason, amassing 25.1 innings and allowing just five runs (1.79 ERA) while striking out 25. His next start will come in the World Series against the Astros -- Wheeler did not face them in the regular season.
